GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota’s 20 athletics teams combined for a multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 977 in 2011-12, exceeding the national average score of 974 according to data released on Tuesday afternoon by the NCAA.

Each of UND’s teams also recorded multi-year APR scores of 941 or better in 2011-12, putting each significantly above both the multi-year minimum of 900 as well as the two-year threshold of 930.

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face sanctions, such as scholarship losses and restrictions on practice. Rates are based on the past four years' performance.

“Solid APR scores are the result of a dedicated focus on academic success for UND Athletics,” said UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison. “Many individuals play a role in our success with graduation and retention rates by our student-athletes. Staff, coaches and student-athletes should all be commended for these outstanding accomplishments.”

In order to compete in the 2013-14 postseason, teams must achieve a 900 multi-year APR or a 930 average of the most recent two years. The same standard was in place for the 2012-13 academic year. This standard will increase to a multi-year 930, which predicts to a Graduation Success Rate of approximately 50 percent, or a 940 two-year average APR for the 2014-15 academic year.

UND’s softball team received the department’s highest multi-year score at 996, followed closely by women’s soccer (994), women’s golf (993), men’s golf (989) and men’s hockey (989). UND also scored above the four-year average in the NCAA's highest profile sports, scoring a 966 in football and a 976 in men's basketball. The national average in those sports was 949 and 952, respectively.